Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
When Thou didst appear in the Jordan and wast baptized by the Forerunner, O Christ our Savior, Thou wast borne witness to as the beloved Son; wherefore, Thou wast revealed as equally without beginning like the Father, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Thee. And, enlightened by Him, we cry aloud: Glory to God in Trinity!
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—
And after “Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy one us…”, we chant this sticheron idiomelon, in Tone VI—
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, thrice.
Thou didst sanctify the streams of the Jordan and didst crush the might of sin, O Christ our God; Thou didst bow Thy head beneath the hand of the Forerunner and hast saved the human race from deception. Wherefore, we entreat Thee: Save Thou our souls!
Glory…, Now & ever…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…”—
God the Word appeared in the flesh unto the human race and stood forth to be baptized in the Jordan. And the Forerunner said to Him: “How can I stretch forth my hand and touch the head of Thee Who holdest all things? Even though Thou art Mary’s Child, yet do I know Thee to be the preëternal God, Who art hymned by the seraphim, yet goest about on the earth. A servant knoweth not how to baptize his master. O unapproachable Lord, glory be to Thee!”
Thou hast wrapped Thyself in the streams of the Jordan, O Thou Who dost most gloriously clothe Thyself in light, and Thou hast restored therein the nature of Adam, which had been corrupted by evil disobedience, O Word of God. Wherefore, we all praise and glorify Thy holy Epiphany.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…”—
Two canons, the irmoi of both of which are chanted twice, the troparia repeated to make up 12, after which the first choir chanteth the irmos of Canon I, and the second choir chanteth the irmos of Canon II.
Wherefore didst thou marvel, O River Jordan, seeing the Invisible One naked? “I beheld and trembled,” it said, “for how could I have desired not to be filled with awe of Him and withdraw?” The angels were filled with fear, beholding Him; heaven was affrighted, and the earth quaked; the sea, and all things visible and invisible, were troubled. Christ appeared in the Jordan, to sanctify the waters.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
We magnify Thee, O Christ Bestower of life, Who for our sake wast baptized by John in the flesh, in the waters of the Jordan.
Selected Psalm verses—
A God be gracious unto us and bless us. [Ps. 66: 2]
B Cause Thy face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us. [Ps. 66: 2]
A Come unto Him, and be enlightened. [Ps. 33: 6]
B And your faces shall not be ashamed. [Ps. 33: 6]
A The rushings of the river make glad the city of God. [Ps. 45: 5]
B The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. [Ps. 28: 3]
A The Lord is upon the many waters. [Ps. 28: 3]
B The rivers have lifted up, O Lord, the rivers have lifted up their voices. [Ps. 92: 3]
A At the voices of many waters. [Ps. 92: 4]
B Therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniem. [Ps. 41: 7]
A For in Thee is the fountain of life, in Thy light shall we see light. [Ps. 41: 10]
B The sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back. [Ps. 113: 3]
A Thou didst establish the sea by Thy might. [Ps. 73: 13]
B Thou didst break the heads of the dragons in the water. [Ps. 73: 13]
A Thou hast cloven fountains and torrents. [Ps. 73: 15]
B The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee and were afraid. [Ps. 76: 17]
A In the sea are Thy byways, and Thy paths in many waters. [Ps. 76: 20]
B How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all. [Ps. 103: 24]
Glory…, Now & ever… Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
Come, O ye faithful, let us behold where Christ was baptized, that after Him we may follow to the River Jordan, to the voice of one crying in the wilderness, and there may see the Creator of Adam touched by the hand of His servant, in His ineffable loving-kindness; and may cry aloud to Him: Thou hast come and revealed Thyself, to sanctify the waters in the Jordan!
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
The sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back.
Stichos: What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou Jordan, that thou didst turn back?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Mark, § 2 [Mk. 1: 9-11]
At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying: “Thou art My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”
After Psalm 50:
Glory…: Let all things rejoice today, for Christ hath been baptized in the Jordan!
Now & ever…: Let all things rejoice today, for Christ hath been baptized in the Jordan!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.